Friday, July 21, 2017

Solar sojourners

Cannonborough-Elliottborough is about to be flooded with visitors staying in Airbnb properties

While the city is far from reaching a consensus on whether short-term rentals are a boon or the bane of Lowcountry neighborhoods, there does seem to be one certainty: existing short-term rental properties are going to be housing a lot of visitors next month.

According to Airbnb, on August 21, the day of the solar eclipse, more than 6,700 guests will arrive in the Palmetto State, an increase of 380 percent from the same time the previous week. The top three cities in the state for visitor influx are Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and Greenville.

In June, the Post & Courier reported that, according to recent City of Charleston input sessions, most residents think short-term rentals are OK if regulated. Short-term rentals are currently only allowed "on commercially zoned properties within the accommodations overlay zone" and in Cannonborough-Elliotborough.